PHIL MAXWELL

Bring Back The NHS!

November 4, 2016

The NHS in England is being dismantled. Only a change to the law can stop the damage. Now more than ever. Thousands have contacted their MPs asking them to support the NHS Reinstatement Bill. On 13th July 2016, the NHS Reinstatement Bill was successfully presented in the House of Commons, by Margaret Greenwood, Labour MP for Wirral West.

A second reading will take place in the House Of Commons today.

The National Health Service has been one of the UK’s greatest achievements. For 65 years it has provided a cost effective, universal health service, free at the point of need to all people irrespective of their background, circumstance or ability to pay.

Yet over the last 25 years, this founding vision has been slowly but surely eroded. The final blow was the Health and Social Care Act 2012, forcing a commercialised model on the NHS in England. Hospital beds are being axed. A&E services are being closed and staff cut; the World Health Organisation says that because of privatisation the ‘NHS’ is no longer a service for everyone free at the point of need. You can sign the petition to support the NHS reinstatement bill below.

Royal Hospital Liverpool 2016

Royal Liverpool Hospital 2016

Pensioners campaigning to save Liverpool Women’s Hospital

Liverpool 2016

Campaign to save Liverpool Women’s Hospital 2016

Demonstration against NHS cuts. London 1987

You can sign the petition here:

NHS Reinstatement Bill

The River Thames & Rivers In Bangladesh

November 3, 2016

Here are some rivers I’ve had the pleasure to meet over the past 40 years.

River Thames from Shadwell East London 1983

River boat, Dhaka Bangladesh, c. 1992

River in Bangladesh 2009

River Thames c. 1998

Boat on Buriganga river, Dhaka 1998

River Thames c.1990

Canary Wharf from the River Thames, 2006

River boat, Dhaka Bangladesh, c. 1992

River Thames from Shadwell East London 1982

River boat, Dhaka Bangladesh, c. 1992

Alternative Headlines Of Protest

November 2, 2016

Here are some headlines you won’t see in the mainstream press!

No Cuts. TUC March Central London 2011

The People’s Assembly 2015

'We won't pay for their crisis'. TUC demonstration, March 2010

‘We won’t pay for their crisis’. TUC demonstration, March 2011

Liverpool 2016

Tax the rich. TUC demonstration, March 2010

‘Tax the rich’. TUC demonstration, March 2011

Liverpool 2016

‘Liverpool Remembers’, TUC demonstration March 2011

Protestors on Cleopatra’s needle, TUC March London 2011

‘Why make the poor pay?’, TUC March London 2011

Liverpool 2016

‘Cut war not welfare’, TUC March London 2011

‘Cut Trident’, TUC March London 2011

‘Tory cuts medicine’, TUC March London 2011

‘Tory cuts’, TUC March London 2011

Liverpool Pride 2016

Birmingham teachers, TUC March London 2011

‘Long live the welfare state’, TUC March London 2011

London Pride 2016

‘Death by a thousand cuts’, TUC March London 2011

Barclays Bank Fracking Protest

November 1, 2016

According to the Medact report on health and fracking (2015) “the arguments against fracking on public health and ecological grounds are overwhelming. There are clear grounds for adopting the precautionary principle and prohibiting fracking.” The health professionals writing the report concluded that fracking in the Uk could lead to “increased risks of cancer, respiratory disease and birth defects,” because of the chemicals and processes used. Despite overwhelming evidence of the dangers the government plans to push ahead with plans to allow fracking. Earlier this year permission was granted to allow a company called Third Energy to frack in Ryedale, North Yorkshire, contrary to the wishes of the vast majority of local residents. A few weeks ago permission to frack was also given the go-ahead to a site in Lancashire, also against the wishes of local residents. Support for fracking is at an all time low, with only 19% of the country in favour. The alternative to fracking is a 100% renewable future. In the UK we are lucky to have colossal renewable energy resources from wind, waves and the sun.

Last Saturday saw a nationwide protest outside Barclays Banks. Third Energy is 97% owned by Barclays bank. If you don’t want your money invested in dirty energy move to a more ethical bank.

These photographs were taken in Liverpool where hundreds marched and protested against Barclays and their plans to destroy the planet.